SECTION 4: Differences between Tank-Raised and Wild-Caught Clownfishes
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TANK-RAISED AND WILD-CAUGHT CLOWNFISHES
So far I have discussed selection of species, how to tell whether your clownfish is male, female, nor neither, and some ways/places for you to acquire your future clownfishes. I will take a moment to discuss differences between tank-raised specimens versus wild-caught specimens, with the obvious notion that as hobbyists, we want to limit the amount we purchase animals taken from the coral reefs. This is especially obvious if what we are buying as consumers is available as tank-raised specimens.
So why buy Tank-Raised clownfishes?
Young Age
One benefit of buying tank-raised clownfishes is age. When buying tank-raised specimens, you know your fishes will be young, mostly falling between 5-12 months of age. This way, you will be sure to have a young clown that will give you years of enjoyment in your tank. In contrast, a wild-caught clownfish may be several years old with most ranging from 2-5 years of age. The commonly caught wild gold-strain of the Premnas biaculeatus is usually seen at your LFS with bright yellow bands. This species does not develop fully bright gold-bands until at least 2-3 years of age. So the fish is at least that old. In addition, many people think that size is a good indicator of age. This is untrue, as a clownfish that is a decade year old may still be only 1" in length--the reason being that it is still an adolescent (possible oxymoron? - old adolescent ). It is definitely sad to buy wild-caught clownfish 'pairs', never to find out their actual ages may be in the early teens.
Disease and parasite free
This is by far another important advantage to buying tank-raised fish, in some ways even more so than age. If I had the choice to pick either a healthy a 3-5 year old clown or a young, sick clown with internal parasites, etc and other disease, I would pick the former. As a breeder, it is rewarding to be able to supply disease-free fish. Almost all breeders will keep their grow-out systems as a separate stand-alone system, away from the parent/main tank. It is this isolation that helps to ensure that disease and parasite-free fish remain that way. Can tank-raised fish fall prey to diseases? The answer is yes. There is a good chance that tank-raised fishes become ill upon arrival at your LFS or in your home tank, particularly if another fish harboring that disease is present in the same water as the tank-raised fishes. In my opinion, the goal of every LFS should be in having separate systems. One more wild-caught specimens, one for tank-raised fishes, and another complete system for quarantine (QT).
Foods-prepared, frozen, dry-rations
TR fishes will already be on prepared, frozen, freeze-dried, and other dry forms of foods. In other words, they will not be picky and will know that even if its not moving, it still constitutes food. While it is true that recently arrived wild-caught fishes may not eat for several days, some just fail to eat as they are stressed and harbor diseases/parasites. Buying TR fishes ensure that they will be eager to eat voraciously in your tank with any fish foods easily attainable from your LFS, pet store, or supermarket. Doing this will also save time, as wild clownfishes may start to eat only with live foods present, and purchasing TR fishes will allow you time to skip hatching brine shrimp or having to buy live adult brine or mysis shrimp (artemia and mysid).
Behavior-'tamer'
Tank-raised specimens seem to be 'tamer' than their wild-counterparts. In my experience, I have seen three TR adult gold-stripe Premnas clownfishes coexist in the same tank without any fighting. In retrospect, the gold-stripe pairs in my possession are a reckon to behold. In my opinion, this 'tamer' behavior is due to early exposure to competition and forced exposure to eachother in a confined area. I had about 50 or so of the gold-stripes in a small tank, of roughly ~9-10 gallons of water volume, and indeed they were bickering, chasing, and lunging at one another. Yet, this exposure and their wild natural behavior of attacking each other, allows them to be somewhat tamer as adults. They do not see one another as 'enemy' even in a confined area.
Ecologically 'sound'
Taking common species out of the ocean is an absurd thing at this point in time, especially with the numerous types of available species as Tank-Raised. In my opinion, the only reason to purchase a wild-caught specimen is for genetic diversity. However, as a breeder, mutations will rarely occur among tank-raised fishes, even those who are brother/sister pairs (yes...incest...:lol: ), although at about F10 (10th generation of pairing...brother/sister..) mutations will show up. The other reason, being that you are locating a more uncommon clownfish that is not yet available as tank-raised. Other than those two reasons, I suggest everyone to purchase TR specimens. It will make your life easier
and you will feel proud of saving a couple clownfishes from not taking them out of their coral reef home.
As always, I am open for questions, and edits may occur throughout this workshop.
Best,
Ilham
(post 8)
